Radiator signal device



A. L. SOHM RADIATOR SIGNAL DEVICE Filed Jan. 24, 1925 mim SOHM Patented Sept. 2l, 1926.

ALFRED n. soHivI, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Application Aled January This invention relates to radiator signal devices and more particularly to a device adapted to be attached 'to the filling Vspout ofv an automobile radiator'to indicateunusual thermal conditions existing. therein.

An important object of the invention is to .provide a pressure operated signal operable by an increase 'in pressure within the radiator due to the generation of steam therein and presenting a visible vmovable* signal portion to permit the operator readily to determine the presence of abnormal conditions in thepower plant of the vehicle.v A furither object of the invention is to provide such a device which Vwill be positive in actionv and wherein the visible signal is adapted to lmove to varying Apositions according to thevpressure existing within the radiator withoutV permitting the loss of steam from the radiator. f v

' A still further object is'to provide a deviceV of the' above mentioned character provided with a condensing chamber wherein water vapors or steam generated within the radiator will be condensed and returned toV the radiator, thus minimizing the action of the visible signal when only a'slightly abnormal condition existswithin the radiator. Othern objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent duringv the course of the following description.

Y In the drawings, I have shown one embodiment ofthe invention. In this showing" Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional view of the device applied to an automobile radiator, Vparts being shown in elevation,

Figure 2 is an enlarged central vertical sectional yview of the device det-ached,

Figure is a sectiontaken on' line 3 3 of Figure 2, and, f A -A Figure 4 is aperspective viewl of the dia- Referring to the drawings, the numeral 10 designates an ordinary automobile radi ator 4having the usualfilling spout 11 and overflow pipe 12. The radiator is adapted to be connected at its upper end to the water jacket of the enginethrough the usual lconneotion 13. s 1

.Referring to Figure 1, the numeral y14r designates a cross arm cap of theV usual type threaded on thelilling spout as shown. The

ca) is preferably hollow' as shown and has a at'centra) upper pararon 15 providedwth RADIATOR sIefNAIJ DEVICE',H

24, 1925. serieu No. 4,589.1

` .imam V*PAT ENT,l oF Fleau,

a central aperture for ak purpose to be described.

stamped circular.l base 17, the "botto-m of which is arranged against the flat top 15 of the cap. A depending tubular member 18 is secured to the base 17 and affords communication between the interior thereof and the interior ofthe radiator as 'willfr be obvious. The member 18 is preferably externally threaded as at 19and a nut 2O is arranged thereon for securing the base and tubular member tothe cap. yA lgasket 20 and spring washer 21. are preferably arrangedbetween the nut 2O and the top of the cap 14 to maintain an air-tight joint. A nut 22 is arranged onwthe'lowerend of the tubular member and visA provided with al screen 23 toV prevent dirt andV other foreign matter from passing from. the radiator to the interior-of the signal.

. The lsignal further comprises a preferably vertically; arranged circularchamber 24 se- Ashown at130 and the upper face of .this e .closure member is: preferably provided with concentric raised ridges 30 and31 colored -red Ito provide avisible signal to be described. The top portion 30 is provided withl a ldepending cylinder 32 in which is "mounted to reciprocate'a plunger Y33. A stem 34, preferablyformed integral' with the y.plunger 33, extends upwardly through an 1 opening 35 in,l the top'30 as shown in Fig- ,ure 1. A preferablyrstamped cap 36 is se- :cured to theiipper end of theA stem 34 andV extends downwardly to cover the colo-red sition. A plate 37 may be4 connected between the stem 34 andthe side walls of the cap 36 Atomore rigidly connect the latter tothestem. f

The chamber .'24 isy provided with an intefannular jV whisk is f portion 31 whenl the device is in normal po- Vfor preventing the escape of water mountedvia preferably rubber ring 39 tov which is secured a diaphragm 40. Iprefer to employ a diaphragm formed Ofgutta `percha inasmuch as this material is adapted.

against which the lower face of the screen i-1' rests. lt will be' obvious that the flexibility of the ring 39, diaphragm 40 and screen 'l1 permits thesey members to be pressed'in position within the groove formed betweenthe flanges 38 and 42.`. l

`As shown in Figure l, means is provided vapors and steam from the overflow pipe. As shown' a tubular member t3 is arranged in a rubber tube lil clamped as at l5 to the lower end/of the overilow pipe 12.V The lower end'of the rubber tube lll is arranged within' a second metallic tube 46 to the lower end-of which is secured a whistle 7. A ball valve 48 is adapted to engage against the other end ofthe tubular member 43" and is-normallymaintained in position by acoil spring 49. The lower end of the' whistle may be provided witha drip opening-50A to permit the. escape of. any water which collects in thelower end of the whistle.

The operation of the device is as follows:

llVith the valve 48 seated .as shown in Figure l, it .will'be obvious that no vapors can escape through the overflow pipe' except when some considerable pressure is built up in the radiator. If some abnormal condition occurs within the engine to create a suflicient temperature within the radiator Vto boil the water therein the steam generated willA pass upwardly throughk the tub-V ular member -18 to the interior offthe chamber 24 beneath'the diaphragm l0. The 'pressure will stretch the diaphragm upwardly as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2 of the drawings and the diaphragm,` contacting withthe lower end of the, plunger 33 will raise thelatter upwardly, moving with it the cap 'uncovering the colored' upper face of thet'op 30, thus warning the operator of :the `existance lof abnormall lthermal wconditions. It .will be obvious that the operator need not depend upon the visibility of the colored signal face but may receive sufiicient warning fromthe upward movement of the cap 56.1` The diaphragm 40 is preferably very thin and highlyflexible so as to be sensitive ter slight increases in pressurewithin the radiator.- Under some conditions, how-V ever, abnormal conditions may exist in the engine due merely'to unusual travelingv conjoinedk claims;

ditions such asz ascending. hills, traveling through sand, etc.,- and it-is not desirable that the signal should operate under such conditions. `As previously stated, vapors from the radiator are adapted to pass into the rcondensing chamber 28 wherein they arel condensed and returned through the openings 29to theradiator. liVhen the temperature of the water rises to a point just above:` theuboiling point, it has Abeen found that the condensing, action.- withinl therl chamber 28 takes place 'withsuflicientfrap-I idity to .greatly minimize, if'not .to.wholly.y prevent the generation yof pressure suiiic'ientv. to raisethe .cap v36 Any additional,v pressures, however,are adapted to raise thesig-pA nal cap 36 to give warnin-g'to thev operator..V lt will be apparent thatiif the' pressure; gen

eratedfwithin Ythe radiator rises materially above' the pressure necessary to :fully .raise the cap 36, the ball Vvalve 48 will rbecomeyun seated and permit theescape of the ypressure fluid through the whistle 47,1thuspreventing damage to the radiator and affording anV audible sig-nalA as a further warningfto theoperator. vltwill be apparent'that theipro-` vision of thediaphragm and associated-ele-y mentsk willprevent the leakage of .steamV through the upper endof thesignal. which has been foundin practiceto, be very annoying! when thepressurey withinlthe: rad iator reaches an'ext'remely'high point.V The prevention of'v leakage andthe condensation of the steam `within thechamber 28 serves vto retain the water within theradiator "fora long interval of time.v

It Vis to be i understood thattheformof myrinve'ntion herewith shown anddescribed isfto be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of iparts may .be resorted to without departing from the. spirit of the invention or the scope ;.0f the'sub'- I "claim:- Y 1L A device' of thecharacter described comprising'a vertically' arranged chamber adaptedto communicate at itsf-lo'wer end with the interior ofl an-automobiley radiator, said chamber being provided intermediate its endslwith aY pai-rv of spaced internalintegral flanges, an elastic ring arranged between Y said-flanges', an elastic diaphragm. se-

4curedito Vsaidring, :said ring andv said" diapliragin being adapted 'to'be fri'ctionally heldin position by vsaid flanges,ia cylindrical guide carried by said chamberabove said diaphragm centrally thereof, a reciprocating plunger mounted in said guide and adapted ioo to contactat'its'lower end withV said dia- 125 pliragin Vtobe actuated thereby, said'plunger extendingl upwardly beyond said chamber, and a cap carried by the upper-end of'said plunger 'and Vnormally arranged adjacent 0 the upper end of'said chamber."V

2. A device of the character described comprising a lchamber provided intermediate its ends with an internal annular groove, the material forming said groove being integral With said chamber, one end of said chamber being adapted to communicate With the interior of an automobile radiator, an elastic diaphragm arranged in said chamber, an elastic ring secured against one face of said diaphragm, the edges of said ring and said diaphragm being arranged in said groove and adapted t0 be frictionally retained therein by the Walls thereof, and a signal adapted to be actuated by said diaphragm.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

'ALFRED L. soHM. 

